NEW YORK -- For most of last season, the Mets rotated between Tyrone Taylor and Harrison Bader as their primary center fielders. This year, it appears the Bader role will go to Jose Siri.

The Mets on Tuesday agreed to acquire Siri from the Rays for reliever Eric Orze.

Siri, who had been with the Rays since 2022, is an elite center-field defender who was tied for second in baseball at the position last season with 16 Outs Above Average. He also gives the Mets insurance in the event that Taylor, who underwent multiple surgeries earlier this offseason, needs more time than expected to recover.

Offensively, Siri has hit 43 home runs the past two seasons, but he mustered just a .620 OPS in 2024.

Siri, who has three years of team control left, is arbitration-eligible for the first time this offseason.

Orze, 27, was the Mets’ fifth-round Draft pick in 2020. He produced a 2.92 ERA over 43 appearances at Triple-A Syracuse this season but struggled during a brief big league debut.